Austria Refuses to Back EU’s 2040 Climate Target
(MENAFN) Austria announced it will not back the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate target in its current form, casting doubt over the fate of a flagship emissions plan just days before a pivotal vote by environment ministers.
The draft proposal seeks to slash the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040 — a goal considered essential for keeping Europe on course toward climate neutrality by mid-century.
According to a news outlet, the plan has undergone intense negotiations, with several compromises introduced to ease worries about its economic impact on households and industries.
Approval of the measure requires support from at least 15 member states representing 65% of the EU’s population. Austria’s stance could therefore prove decisive.
Although Vienna maintains its own ambition to reach climate neutrality by 2040, Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig confirmed Austria’s opposition to the EU’s 90% reduction plan. “We see room for correction,” he said.
Austria has also submitted six demands aimed at protecting its domestic industry.
The Danish presidency has reportedly built a fragile coalition around Germany, France, and Spain, but reaching the required population threshold would still depend on winning backing from Poland, Italy, or a group of smaller nations.
Poland has already voiced its opposition, while Italy has followed suit. Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said the proposal lacked “indispensable” elements and urged revisions to the EU’s 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
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